Caring

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 28.9 million tons of plastic containers were generated in 2005. Plastics are a rapidly-growing segment of municipal solid waste that is dumped into overflowing landfills every year. The largest category of plastics is containers and packaging, including the pots and flat trays that hold your plants. The EPA estimates that during the past 45 years, the amount of waste each person creates has doubled from 2.7 to 4.54 pounds a day and the most effective way to stop this trend is to prevent waste from being generated in the first place...

Every plant in the Circle of Life program is grown in a biodegradable pot. This pot can be broken apart to allow the roots to expand out and planted directly in the ground. Or you can add the pots to your compost heap, where it will degrade naturally and reduce the amount of trash.

Also, the plants are grown in healthy soil with beneficial microbes and only organically-based fertilizers are used. The roots develop stronger so they establish in your garden faster and extract nutrients from the soil more efficiently. This ensures that you have the best-looking, high-performing garden!

If you don't have a compost pile, don't worry! It's easy to start your own. You can buy a composting structure, build one or reserve a spot in your yard "off the beaten path." Then start adding to it – anything from grass clippings, leaves, manure and even food will do. (But be sure to cover the food materials with a layer of leaves and grass so you don't attract animals.)

Even if your living space doesn't allow for composting, you can rest assured that the containers you are throwing away are better for the environment in the long run.